Custer excited to have teammates at regional

After being the Worthington Christian High School girls track and field team's only Division III regional representative last season, Allie Custer has company at that level this time.

After being the Worthington Christian High School girls track and field team's only Division III regional representative last season, Allie Custer has company at that level this time.

The sophomore, who advanced to the regional, which began last Wednesday and concludes Friday at Fairfield Union, in the 100 and 400 meters as well as on the 1,600 relay, much prefers it that way.

"I think we all depend on each other really well," Custer said. "We each get pumped up and motivated."

According to Custer, junior Mackenzie Clapper has provided leadership despite being in her first year with the program.

Clapper also has brought strength with her middle-distance running. She captured a district championship last Saturday at Gahanna in the 800 and ran a leg on the 1,600 relay.

The others on the 1,600 relay which took third at district were junior Tobie Weston and freshman Katie Feusse.

The girls tied Harvest Prep for ninth (31) in the 23-team district meet behind champion Grandview (87). Placing sixth was Tobie Weston in the 200 (27.85).

Custer was third in both of her individual events. Last season, Custer advanced to the regional after taking third at district in the 400 and then scored the team's only regional point when she finished eighth.

"I only ran the 100 once before district," Custer said. "The 400 is the event that I train for. I was (surprised to make it in the 100), but I also have a lot of confidence that I can get a good time. We've run the same four in the (1,600 relay) off and on this year because the other girls are all doing soccer. I just chose to do one sport this spring."

The boys finished 13th (17) in the 25-team district meet last Saturday at Gahanna behind champion Columbus Academy (98).

Wellman was confident entering the regional that both boys relays could advance to the state meet, which will be held June 4-5 in Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

"We thought that with the runners that we have this year, we had everybody make it to the regional that we felt could make it for both the boys and girls teams," said Wellman, who also was seventh in the long jump (19-5 3/4). "We couldn't have asked for anything more than we got and were pretty satisfied. They combined the district meet for boys all into one meet this year, so it made it tougher."

•The boys tennis team will lose five seniors, including first-singles player Andrew Kistler, to graduation.

The Warriors went 3-9 overall. Their match against St. Charles on May 18 was postponed because of bad weather and will not be played because it had no bearing on the CCL race.

In its final season in the CCL, Worthington Christian placed fifth at 1-3 behind Watterson (5-0), DeSales (4-1), St. Charles (2-2) and Hartley (2-3) and ahead of Ready (0-5). The Warriors beat the Silver Knights 4-1 on May 4 for their only conference win and defeated Grandview (3-2 on April 19) and Whitehall (5-0 on May 6) for their other wins.

At the Division II sectional May 14 at Columbus Academy, sophomore Reid Smith and senior Curtis Hahn won one match before losing in the second round. Kistler lost his opening match.

"I felt like all of the guys played well (at the sectional)," coach Alex Schmidt said. "I was kind of disappointed for my first-singles player because he lost in three sets, but he really played very well and showed some mental toughness."

The other seniors were doubles players Aleck Brunner, Nathan Dawdy and R.J. Murray.

Also eligible to return after losing their opening sectional match is the doubles team of juniors Tanner Singleton and Connor Holland. Murray and sophomore Jonathan Myer lost their opening sectional doubles match during the second round.

"There were a lot of good things that happened that we can build on for next year," Schmidt said. "We also know we've got a good player who's going to play for us as a freshman next year, so that's something that's pretty exciting. The one thing is keeping our guys playing. These guys haven't been very successful in the past so we have to keep their confidence up."

At a glance

Below are the regional qualifiers for the Worthington Christian boys and girls track and field teams with district event, place and time/distance/height:

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